It’s been less than a year since Terence “Bud” Crawford announced his stunning retirement from boxing, which came shortly after he delivered a masterclass performance against Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in a mega bout that cemented his place in boxing lore. In the seven months since hanging up the gloves, Crawford now knows what it’s like to continue sustaining a lifestyle that includes supporting seven children, on top of continuing to pay the bills, like a mortgage and the boxing gym he owns in Omaha, Nebraska, or continuing with his real estate investment opportunities while no longer being able to count on a major payday as the former No. 1 pound-for-pound boxer.
It’s estimated that Crawford earned anywhere from $90 million to $100 million during his illustrious career. Those in the know say Crawford is financially disciplined, which is what makes him the perfect, and perhaps only, candidate to speak out on Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s alleged money problems.
The five-time division champion and future Hall of Famer weighed in on The Ariel Helwani Show, who empathized with Mayweather Jr. amid news that he is allegedly broke after owing millions to the IRS in unpaid taxes. Mayweather Jr. is also accused of writing a bad $200,000 check and allegedly pocketing more than $4 million after backing out of a contract that would have seen him fight Mike Tyson and Manny Pacquiao, which triggered a lawsuit.
Mayweather, who like Crawford finished his Hall of Fame career undefeated, reportedly had $1.1 billion in career earnings. On the one hand, it’s not surprising that Mayweather Jr. is in the hole. But on the other hand, it’s easy to see why Mayweather Jr. allegedly owes so much money: many predicted his luxurious lifestyle was not sustainable, and it all finally caught up to him, allegedly.
“It’s sad when you hear about the people that are coming at him and people calling him broke, which, Floyd ain’t going to never be broke. You may have $200 million and they call you broke because you ain’t at the status that you once were yesterday that you are today,” Crawford told Helwani. “But Floyd has an expensive lifestyle, and if you’re not bringing in money, just as much money as you’re spending, then of course you’re heading down the wrong path.”
Crawford’s warning to younger athletes
Regardless of whether Mayweather is broke or rich-broke, Crawford says what Mayweather Jr. is going through is something they should take to heart, especially young athletes.
“So it’s definitely a lesson learned to these young, up-and-coming athletes — and not just boxing, just athletes around the world — that tomorrow’s not promised, so you need to make the right investments, make the right decisions with your money,” Crawford said. “Because you can use it as a tool to make money, but at the same time, it can hinder you, and you can burn yourself at the end of the day thinking that you’re going to get another check tomorrow. So you’ve got to plan for the future, and some people don’t do that.”
My one-on-one encounter with Mayweather Jr.
It was back in August 2025 when I hung out, albeit briefly, with Mayweather Jr.
We were in Miami, where I had been invited to interview him –on a yacht, no less — to promote his new supplement line with GNC, 101 (known as One-of-One). The plan was to set sail once the guest of honor (and his entourage) boarded.
While we waited, all of us hit the bar, snapped photos, and checked out the top deck, which was fitted with a boxing ring, though it wasn’t regulation size.
Didn’t matter. The 101 branding everywhere, including on bright red pillows, made it clear that Mayweather Jr. and his team were going all out for this new business endeavor.
You could tell when Mayweather Jr. arrived. There were audible “oohs” and “aahs” when he and his team boarded the yacht. I expected him to be decked out, looking flashy like I remembered seeing him at the many other boxing events I had attended. He was low-key and incredibly respectful to everyone, though his entourage/bodyguards kept everyone at bay.
I was one of several reporters expected to sit with him for 15-20 minutes to interview him. I must have been 20 feet away from his table when I tried to snap a photo, and Mayweather Jr. looked me in the eye and waved his hand as if to say, “No pictures.” I obliged and put my phone down.
I waited. And waited. And waited. No interview transpired. After about an hour and a half of sailing, we headed back to land. The yacht docked, and I was disappointed the interview didn’t happen. I was near the exit as Mayweather Jr. and his team walked in my direction. I didn’t want to have an awkward encounter, especially because we never chatted, so I turned my back and pretended to look out the window.
Just then, I felt a tap on the shoulder. I turn around, and it’s Mayweather Jr.
“Let’s take a picture,” he said.
Snap, snap.
“I’m sorry we didn’t get to talk, but we’ll figure it out later,” he added.
I specifically flew down there to interview Mayweather Jr., and although we never spoke again, at least I had a picture to take back home and show off to all of my boxing friends. Everyone asks me if Mayweather Jr. is as bombastic or boisterous as he appears on TV. To everyone’s surprise, I tell them he’s chill and very respectful.
I won’t pretend to know or understand his alleged money woes. But for a few hours on a hot August day in 2025, I found Mayweather Jr. to be anything but the “Money Mayweather” character we all were so accustomed to seeing on TV.
